Buzz
Planking, Tebowing, and the Harlem Shake are staples of contemporary pop culture. These trends emerge, captivate our attention briefly, and then disappear, often fading into obscurity. While critics argue that such fads reflect a frivolous aspect of modern society, the reality is that similar crazes have existed for decades.
10. Swallowing Goldfish
While most fads are short-lived, a few manage to endure for years. Streaking, for instance, remains as popular today as it was in the past. Although goldfish swallowing may not be as widespread, it still has a dedicated fanbase, with enthusiasts sharing their attempts online through the Goldfish Challenge.
The name of this trend leaves little to the imagination. Watching people consume bizarre items might disgust us, yet we’re oddly fascinated. What’s remarkable is that this peculiar fad began in 1939 and continues to thrive. It originated with Lothrop Withington Jr., a Harvard freshman who swallowed a live goldfish to win a $10 bet. Surprisingly, this wasn’t a reckless stunt—Withington prepared by practicing with smaller fish before attempting the goldfish.
A photographer happened to be present to capture the moment. Initially, it seemed like nothing more than a quirky yearbook snapshot, but the trend quickly spread across campuses and even earned a spot in Life magazine. Soon, others began attempting to outdo Withington’s achievement, gulping down dozens of goldfish in one go. The unofficial record was set by John Deliberato of Clark University, who managed to swallow 89 goldfish in a single attempt. The craze grew so intense that a senator proposed legislation to curb the “cruel and unnecessary consumption” of fish on college grounds.
9. Stuffing Phone Booths
There’s something oddly appealing about cramming as many people as possible into tight spaces. It all began in 1959 when a group of students in Durban, South Africa, decided to squeeze 25 people into a phone booth and document the feat. They later submitted their accomplishment to the Guinness Book of World Records, sparking a trend that spread across Europe and America.
That same year, students at St. Mary’s College in California caught wind of the record and aimed to surpass it. Although they only managed to fit 22 people into their booth, their attempt gained attention thanks to Life magazine photographer Joe Munro, who was on hand to capture the moment. The image of the crowded phone booth, featured in the magazine, propelled the trend into the mainstream.
The idea soon expanded beyond phone booths, with people cramming into cars, trains, buses, and even outhouses. The trend remained popular for decades, and as recently as a few years ago, a new record was set for the most people squeezed into a photo booth.
8. Hunkerin’
Shortly after the phone booth stuffing trend, America embraced a new craze—hunkerin’. The objective was simple: squat on the balls of your feet for as long as possible. Creative participants sought out unique locations to hunker, making it a precursor to owling. It was a social activity, best enjoyed with others. Advanced enthusiasts even combined it with drinking beer, a variation known as “hunkerin’ and hookin’.”
This trend reportedly began at the University of Arkansas due to a lack of chairs. The term derives from a Scottish word meaning “haunches.” Students used it as a bonding activity, whether over drinks or during study sessions. They developed various styles, such as the outside hunker, where elbows stayed outside the knees, and the friendship hunker, which involved leaning on the person next to you.
Compared to other fads, hunkerin’ was relatively tame. How much excitement could one derive from simply squatting in place? Still, campus officials favored it over phone booth stuffing for its low-key nature. Unsurprisingly, it faded quickly as people moved on to the next trend.
7. Pole Sitting
For those seeking a mix of thrill and relaxation, pole sitting is the perfect activity. Simply perch atop a flagpole and remain there for as long as you can. Similar to modern planking, the allure lies in the unusual placement of the participant. However, while planking is fleeting, pole sitting is a test of stamina, with individuals staying put for days.
This trend was pioneered by stuntman Alvin “Shipwrecked” Kelly, who first attempted it in 1924 as a wager, lasting over 13 hours. The stunt attracted significant media attention, leading to paid publicity gigs. Soon, many followed suit, including 15-year-old Avon Foreman, who set a record of 10 days and 10 hours.
Kelly’s personal record was 49 days, but Richard “Dixie” Blandy took the practice to new heights. His first attempt in 1929 involved sitting on a gas station flagpole for publicity. Four years later, he broke records by staying atop a pole at the Chicago World Fair for 77 days. In 1954, he set a flagpole standing record of 10 days at the Michigan State Fair, and in 1960, he pedaled a bicycle on a pole for 13 days. He later surpassed his own records, culminating in a 125-day pole sit in Stockholm. Tragically, he died at 72 when the pole he was sitting on in Chicago collapsed.
6. TeddyBar Pictures
One reason fads appear so peculiar is their lack of universality. Prior to the Internet, most trends were confined to specific countries or even small regions. Locals understood their origins, making them seem logical, while outsiders were often baffled. For instance, in the early 1900s, Germans enjoyed taking photos with individuals dressed in polar bear costumes.
These photographs originate from Jean-Marie Donat, a French collector. Dating between 1920 and 1960, this trend persisted in Germany for decades. Donat dedicated 20 years to researching and compiling his collection, yet even he remains uncertain about the fad's origins. Given that German toymaker Richard Steiff played a role in inventing the teddy bear, it's plausible that bears held a special place in German culture.
The collection features numerous images, including children, vacationers, beachgoers, wedding parties, and even Wehrmacht officers posing alongside the polar bear.
5. Six-Day Racing
Six-day racing, a test of endurance and skill, gained immense popularity in the early 1900s. As the name implies, cyclists raced on indoor tracks continuously for six days. Legend has it that the six-day format was chosen to avoid racing on Sundays, though this story may be more myth than fact.
While often associated with America, six-day racing actually began in England in the late 1800s. The first documented race occurred in London in 1878. However, the sport truly flourished after crossing the Atlantic to America, where it gained widespread attention before spreading back across Europe.
Over the years, the rules of six-day racing evolved significantly. Initially, English riders were restricted to 18 hours of racing per day. In America, the event became a nonstop, six-day marathon. This grueling format led to riders using stimulants to stay awake, suffering hallucinations, and frequent crashes, which oddly boosted the sport's appeal. Later, safety measures limited racing to 12-hour shifts, transforming it into a team sport.
During the 1920s and 1930s, six-day racing was a major attraction. Madison Square Garden frequently hosted events, drawing celebrities like Bing Crosby and Jack Dempsey, who came to watch and cheer for the “stars of the saucer.”
4. Panty Raids
Many 1930s fads, such as goldfish swallowing and six-day racing, lost their appeal during World War II. After the war, a sense of calm prevailed as people wondered what the next trend would be. In 1949, the answer arrived: college boys sneaking into girls' dorms and stealing their underwear.
While panty raids are often depicted in college films, they were most popular in the 1950s. The first recorded incident occurred in 1949 at Augustana College in Illinois. Initially, the aim wasn’t to steal underwear but to create chaos. However, when a few pranksters took some lingerie, the press coined the term “panty raid.”
Media coverage propelled panty raids into a nationwide college phenomenon. By 1952, they had become an “epidemic,” affecting over 50 universities. Despite risks like expulsion, arrest, and even tear gas, students continued the raids. Female students often knew about the raids and sometimes even helped, as the trend was more about challenging authority and sexual repression than anything else. The University of California, Berkeley, holds the record for the largest raid in 1956, with over 2,000 participants causing $20,000 in damages.
3. Tijuana Bibles
Amid the Great Depression, affordable entertainment was in high demand, and Tijuana Bibles filled that need. These small, humorous, and risqué comic books, also called eight-pagers, became widely popular in the 1930s and 1940s. Despite emerging in the 1920s, their fame grew as they circulated in speakeasies, pool halls, dance venues, and other places where men gathered.
The name Tijuana Bibles stemmed from the misconception that they were produced in Tijuana and smuggled into the U.S. In reality, most artists were Americans who chose to remain anonymous. One notable creator, known only as Mr. Prolific, achieved significant success, and Wesley Morse, the mind behind Bazooka Joe, was rumored to have contributed to the genre as well.
Tijuana Bibles often mocked well-known figures of the era, including comic strip icons like Popeye, Blondie, and Dick Tracy, as well as real-life personalities such as Jack Dempsey and Al Capone. Celebrities were also frequent targets, with Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford appearing often. However, Mae West reigned supreme in these comics, often depicted in unexpected pairings with Popeye.
2. Face Book
Face books were a social pastime in the early 1900s, where partygoers would sketch caricatures of one another. These drawings were compiled into books, typically bound in sturdy white linen. Clever captions often accompanied the best sketches, making face books a way for friends to exchange humor, art, and memories—similar to today’s social media, but without the technology.
1. Kilroy Was Here
Wars may seem an unlikely origin for trends, but soldiers also sought ways to amuse themselves. This led to the rise of “Kilroy was here” during World War II. The graffiti depicted a bald man with a prominent nose peeking over a wall. Its simplicity, ease of drawing, and playful nature made it a beloved and enduring joke, even after the war ended.
While Kilroy became synonymous with American soldiers, it was inspired by an earlier British sketch called Mr. Chad. Created in 1938 by British cartoonist George Chatterton, Chad also featured a bald man peering over a wall, often accompanied by the phrase “Wot? No tea?” (Tea was replaced with sugar, tobacco, or other scarce items depending on the context.)
By the war's conclusion, countless “Kilroy was here” sketches dotted Europe and America, proving it was a collective effort by thousands of soldiers, not just one bored individual. But who was the real Kilroy? Several people claimed the title, but the most widely accepted origin points to James J. Kilroy, a wartime shipyard inspector. He famously marked inspected ships with “Kilroy was here” in crayon. In 1946, the Transit Company of America organized a contest to identify the true Kilroy, and James provided sufficient proof to win the prize—his very own trolley car.
